Hairbrush with adjustable bristle head



Jan. 31, 1950 F. H. LOTTERS 2,496,0l0

HAIRBRUSH WITH ADJUSTABLE BRISTLE HEAD Filed July 7, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Jam. 1, 1950 F. H. LOTTERS 2,496,0W

HAIRBRUSH WITH ADJUSTABLE BRISTLE HEAD Filed July '7, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lung" nu nu? fulma;

uzz y ma,

Patented Jan. 31, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Fred Hermann Lotters, Albany, N. Y., assignor to Mohawk Brush Company, a corporation of New York Application July 7, 1948, Serial No. 37,447

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to hair brushes of that type which are applied to the hair by a rotary movement of the wrist, the locks of hair being lifted from the scalp by a leading row of bristle tufts, combed by th rotary movement of the brush head while they are supported thereupon, and then dropped back into place from a trailing row of bristle tufts. There are two distinct species of such brushes, one in which the bristle tufts extend in straight longitudinal rows, and one in which the longitudinal rows extend spirally. That row which first catches the locks of hair and lifts them is referred to as the leading row, and that from which they drop back upon th head is the trailing row.

When a brush having the straight rows of bristle tufts is rotated in the hair, looks of hair are simultaneously lifted throughout the length of the leading row, and at the end of the arc of rotation are simultaneously dropped throughout its length from the trailing row. This is good for straight hair, but not optimum for wavy hair, for the simultaneous picking up and dropping of the locks throughout the length of the bristle head crowds adjacent locks and inhibits their freedom of individual movement when they are dropped, so that they do not have the chance to reassume their natural wave.

In the case of the spiral bristle head, the locks are progressively picked up, beginning at the advance end of the leading row of tufts, progressively transferred to the intermediate rows as the brush is rotated in the hair, and progressively dropped back upon the head from the trailin row, beginning at the advance end of the latter. At no time therefore are individual locks crowded through the contiguity of lateral locks, so that each when dropped back upon the head is free to assume its natural wavy contour.

In the family, barbershop, or beauty parlor, it has heretofore been necessary to provide a brush of each species to suit the preference of those having straight hair and those whose hair is wavy.

The present invention has for its general object to provide a hair brush which can be converted from the straight row bristle tuft type to the spiral row type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hair brush having a bristle head including longitudinally extending normally straight rows of bristle tufts, said bristle head being twistable to dispose said rows spirally, means being provided for immobilizing said bristle head both when in its normal and twisted position.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hair brush in which the bristle head is made up of a stack of eoaxially mounted plates, each relatively displaceable with respect to the next in a circumferential direction, each plate carrying a peripheral series of spaced radial bristle tufts, correspondingly spaced for all of said plates so as to define rows of bristle tufts extending longitudinally of said bristle head, said plates bein consecutively connected to one another, longitudinally of the bristle head, with lost motion in each connection, whereby upon rotary movement being imparted to either end of the stack, each plate after moving a slight distance independently, picks up the next plate, after which they move together, producing a progressive relative lateral displacement of the plates which changes the rows from straight to spiral, and vice versa.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawing which accompanies the following specification and throughout the figures of which the same characters denote identical parts:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hair brush embodying the principles of the invention, the bristle tufts being shown arranged in longitudinally straight rows;

Figure 2 is an end View;

Figure 3 is a side elevation with the handle portion broken away, of the same hair brush adjusted so that the bristle tufts are now arranged in longitudinally spiral rows;

Figure 4 is an end view of the brush as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal diametrical section through a part of the brush remote from the handle;

Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a cross-section taken along th line 1-4 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a longitudinal section through the brush, taken along the line 8--8 of Figure '7, showing the chain of connections operatively connecting the plates of the stack;

Figure 9 is a plan view of Figure 8, with all of the bristle disks removed, the boss of the lowermost bristle disk being shown in cross-section;

Figure 10 is a side view of one of the plates or disks, partially in vertical section;

Figure 11 is a vertical section through a slightly modified form of clamping nut connection.

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the brush herein depicted by way of example is a molded plastic proposition, although the employment of other materials and other modes of manufacture are within the scope of the invention. The numeral i represents a handle having an integral mandrel 2, the lower part of which is seen in Figure 3, the upper part being shown in Figure 5. As shown, the handle I is curved so as to comfortably fit the hand, the.

curvature being such that the handle is preferably intersected at two spaced. points by the, produced axis of the mandrel so. that the latter can be substantially coaxial with the axis of rotation of the wrist in manipulating the brush. The mandrel 2 arises perpendicularly to the plane end face 3 of the handle, said face forming a shoulder about the adjacent end of the mandrel.

Astack of independent disks or plates 4% are mounted upon the mandrel rotatable with respect thereto and slidableendwise. thereon. The disks t have parallel upper and lower smooth end faces 5 and 5. The disks 4 are centrally apertured to fit about the mandrel, the latter being in general of cylindrical shape.

The disks 4 are each provided with a peripheral series of radial bristle tufts it. Each disk is preferably provided with the same number of tufts, which are preferably correspondingly spaced apart for all of the disks, so that when the disks are arranged congruently upon the mandrel the tufts of the stack of disks define longitudinally extending straight rows.

All of the disks are identical, each having a boss 5 i extending downwardly from one end face and a recess l2 indenting the opposite end face. When the disks are stacked, the boss of each extends Within the recess of the disk next below, the depths of the recesses being such that the end faces of the disks are in contact. The recesses are somewhatv longer circumferentially than the bosses, providing lost motion when the bosses move circumferentially in the recesses. The boss ii of the lowermost disk l seats in a recess !3, in the end face 3 of the handle 5, and which is of the same circumferential length as the boss, so that the lowermost disk i is anchored against rotational displacement in the lower part of the bristle head, as shown in Figures 8 and 9. When the bosses are each against the same end of each recess the bristle tufts are in either spirals or straight rows. Further, the one of those two positions in which the series of bosses is in a straight longitudinal line presents straight longitudinal rows of bristles.

Above the uppermost disk 4 of the stack an actuator 14 is provided, shown in detail in Figure 5, having the form of a disk rotatable upon the mandrel 2, having a boss l5 which seats in the recess 5210 the uppermost tufted disk 4. Said actuator has a knurled or ribbed peripheral s-ur face l6 (see also Figures 1, 3 and 8), and has a cylindrical depression 29 in its upper face, the floor of said depression being perpendicular to the axis of the mandrel, and being formed with radial serrations 30,.

The upper end portion of the mandrel 2 is of reduced diameter and has two opposite flat sides 8 and 9 extending down as far as the serrated floor of the depression 29, as shown in Figure 5. The two opposite sides of the reduced portion are threaded in an intermediate zone, as indicated at H in Figures 5 and 9. v

A washer l9 seats within the depression 29, having radial serrations 3! on its lower face, capable of interlocking with the complementary serrations 3B. The washer 29 has a hole complementary in shape to the fiat sided portion of the mandrel and fitting thereover so that the washer is held nonrotatable. A locking nut i8 screws upon the mandrel in the threaded zone 11, and when screwed down tight against the washer l9, interlocks the serrations 30 and Bi and holds the actuator positively in fixed position.

The mandrel terminates in a head 2!], housed within a bore in the nut l8, and between the head 29 and threaded zone H the mandrel is of reduced diameter, forming an annular groove 2| receiving the projecting end of a pin 22 which is inserted laterally through a hole in the nut, and in the plastic construction is permanently cemented in place. The provision of the pin 22 prevents the nut from'being removed, but the width of the groove 2| is such as to allow play of the end of the pin 22 in a longitudinal direction, permitting the nut to be unscrewed sufficiently to release the interlock between the serrations 39 and 3|, permitting the actuator to be turned. The nut is provided with the re-entrant facets 23 forming intervening ribs 24, which provide a fingerhold facilitating the manual opera tion of the nut.

The operation of the brush is as follows, starting with a position of the disks in which the bristle tufts are in straight longitudinal rows with the bosses I i in engagement with the righthand sides of the recesses into which they protrude. The nut 58 is now backed off a distance slightly in excess of the height of the serrations 29 and 3%. The actuator is now turned, first to rotate the uppermost disk 4 until its boss H is against the lefthand side of the recesses in which it operates. Further rotation of the actuator will carry the second disk with the first disk, but independently of the third disk until the boss of the second disk has engaged the lefthand side of the recess of the third disk, whereupon the motion will be taken up by the third disk, and so on throughout the whole series of disks comprising the stack. The lowermost disk being anchored in the recess of the handle, will not turn. Thus there is in effect a progressive twisting of the bristle head. When each of the bosses of the moving disk has become engaged with the lefthand side of the recess in which it plays, further movement is stopped, the rows of bristles having assumed a spiral arrangement. The nut 18 is now screwed down to interlock the serrations and fix the actuator in itslimit position in a clockwise direction. This locks all the disks of the stack in their relative. positions of spiral adjustment. reverse the arrangement from spiral to straight, it is necessary merely first. to loosen the nut It, then to rotate the actuator in the contrary direction until all or" the bosses are. again lined up against the. righthand sides of their recesses and again tighten the nut (8.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the. peripheral series of bristle tufts extends over an are which is-less. than a complete circumference, the arc being the same for all the disks. This is the preferred form of the invention, for the wrist movement by which the brush is manipulatedcannot ordinarily rotate it through a complete circumference. However, the invention is not limited to any particular amplitude circumferential displacement of the disks.

Figure 1-1 shows slight modification of the in vention, in which the pin 22 may be readily removed. In this case the pin bore 25 is counterbored, the wall of the counterbore being threaded as at 26, and the pin has an enlarged threaded outer end screwing within said counterbore and having a kerf 28 in its outer end. It is frequently desirable to disassemble the bristle head to replace one or more disks, the bristle tufts of which may have become stained or otherwise damaged, or to remove all the disks for a thorough cleaning and sterilizing of the brush. This may be accomplished by withdrawing the pin 2'2, taking off the nut it, after which the washer is, actuator i l, and all the disks may be readily slipped from the free end of the mandrel, and as readily replaced.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical form of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the specific details of construction and arrangement of parts, as shown, are for purpose of illustration and not to be construed as necessarily limiting the scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Hair brush comprising an adjustable bristle head including a stack of disks coaxially mounted, each relatively circumferentially displaceable with respect to the next, a peripheral series of bristle tufts carried by each disk, said bristle tufts for all the disks forming normally straight rows extending longitudinally of said bristle head, each disk being operatively connected to the next, with limited lost motion in each connection whereby upon rotary movement being applied to the end disk of the stack, said disks, beginning with said end disk, move progressively in consecutive order, disposing said rows of bristle tuft spirally, each disk first moving independently of the disk next remote from said end disk and then moving with said next remote disk, and means for immobilizing the disks of said stack in both its straight row, and spirally adjusted position.

2. Hair brush having an adjustable bristle head, comprising a handle, a mandrel extending from said handle, the latter forming a shoulder at the base of said mandrel in a plane perpendicular thereto, a stack of independent annular disks journaled upon said mandrel with limited freedom of rotary movement thereabout, each disk having an arcuat series of spaced bristle tufts extending outwardly therefrom, said tufts being correspondingly circumferentially spaced for all the disks, defining straight rows of tufts when said disks are in the same phase, and means coacting with the free end of said mandrel and cooperating with said shoulder, through said disks to apply immobilizing clamping pressure to said disks.

3. Hair brush having an adjustable bristle head comprising a handle, a mandrel extending from said handle the latter forming a shoulder about the adjacent end of said mandrel, a stack of independent annular disks journaled upon said mandrel with limited freedom of rotary movement thereabout, means serially connecting said disks with lost motion in each connection, means for fixing one of the end disks in said stack with respect to said handle each disk having an arcuate series of bristle tufts extending outwardly therefrom and circumferentially thereof, the circumferential extent of each of said arcuate series being less than the circumference of said bristle head, and being the same for all the disks, and

means 'coacting'with th free end of said mandrel and cooperating with said shoulder through said disks to apply immobilizing clamping pressure to said disks.

4. Hair brush having an adjustable bristle head, comprising a handle and mandrel unit with a shoulder at the base of the mandrel in a plane perpendicular thereto, a stack of independent annular disks journaled upon said mandrel, each disk having an arcuate series of circumferentially spaced bristle tufts radiating therefrom, the tufts in said series being correspondingly spaced for all the disks, said disks each having a boss projecting from its lower end face and a recess in its upper end face receiving the boss of the next overlying disk, said recesses being of greater lateral length than th bosses which they contain, providing lateral lost motion, said shoulder being formed with a recess into which the boss of the lowermost disk extends, a rotatable actuator about said stack journaled on said mandrel having a boss extending into the recess of the uppermost disk, and a nut screwing upon the end of said mandrel for clamping said stack of disks and. actuator relative to said shoulder.

5. Hair brush having an adjustable bristle head, comprising a handle and mandrel unit with a shoulder at the base of the mandrel in a plane perpendicular thereto, a stack of independent annular disks journaled on said mandrel, and each disk having an arcuate series of circumferentially spaced bristle tufts radiating therefrom, the tufts in said series being correspondingly spaced for all the disks, said disks each having a boss projecting from its lower end face and a recess in its upper end face receiving the boss of the next overlying disk, said recesses being of greater lateral length than the bosses which they contain, providing lateral lost motion, said shoulder being formed with a recess into which the boss of the lowermost disk extends, of the same lateral length as the boss, whereby said lowermost disk is anchored against lateral displacement, a rotatable actuator above said stack journaled on said mandrel, having a boss extending into the recesses of the uppermost disk, a washer slidably but nonrotatably mounted on said mandrel having its lower face engaging the upper face of said actuator, the adjacent faces of said washer and actuator having releasable locking means, and a nut screwed upon the end of said mandrel engaging said washer for bringing said interlocking means into interlocked engagement, thereby locking said stack of disks in adjusted position.

6. Hair brush having an adjustable bristle head, comprising a handle and mandrel unit with a shoulder at the base of the mandrel in a plane perpendicular to the mandrel, a stack of independent annular disks journaled upon said mandrel, each disk having an arcuate series of circumferentially spaced bristle tufts radiating therefrom, the circumferential extent of each of said arcuate series being the same for all the disks, and the tufts in said series being correspondingly spaced for all the disks, means consecutively connecting said disks, one with the next with lost motion in each connection, whereby upon rotary movement being imparted to either end of the stack while the other end is held, each disk after moving a slight distance independently, engages the next disk, whereupon the engaged disks move together, producing a. progressive lateral displacement of the disks of the stack which changes the rows from straight to spiral or vice versa.

7. Hair brush having an adjustable bristle head, comprising a handle and mandrel unit with a shoulder at the base of the mandrel in a plane perpendicular to the mandrel, a stack of independent annular disks journaled upon said mandrel with freedom of sliding movement thereupon, each disk having an arcuate series of circumferentially spaced bristle tufts radiating therefrom, the tufts in said series being correspondingly spaced for all of said disks, said disks each having a boss projecting from its lower end face and a recess in its upper end face receiving the boss of the next overlying disk, said recesses being of greater lateral length than the bosses which they contain, providing lateral lost motion, the lowermost disk being anchored relative to said shoulder against lateral displacement, a rotatable actuator above said stack journaled on said mandrel with freedom of sliding movement having a boss extending into the recess of the uppermost disk, a nut screwed upon the end of said mandrel for clamping said stack of disks and actuator relative to said shoulder, and means between said nut and actuator responsive to the clamping movement of said nut for locking said actuator in its positions of adjustment.

8. Hair brush having an adjustable bristle head, comprising a handle and mandrel unit with a shoulder at the base of the mandrel in a plane perpendicular to the mandrel, a stack of independent annular disks journaled upon said mandrel with freedom of sliding movement thereupon, each disk havin an arcuate series of circumferentially spaced bristle tufts radiating therefrom, the tufts in said series being correspondingly spaced for all of said disks, said disks each having a boss projecting from one end face and a recess in its other end face receiving the boss of the next adjacent disk, said recesses being of greater lateral length than the bosses which they contain, providing lateral lost motion,v the lowermost disk being anchored relative to said shoulder against lateral displacement, a rotatable actuator above said stack journaled on said mandrel with freedom of sliding movement having a boss and recess connection With the uppermost disk, a nut screwed upon the end of said mandrel for clamping said stack of disks and actuator relative to said shoulder, a washer nonrotatably mounted on said mandrel engaging the upper face of said actuator, the adjacent faces of said Washer and actuator being provided with complementary radial serrations adapted to be interlocked by the clamping pressure of said nut for locking said actuator against angular displacement, and a retaining projection on said nut engaged in. a circumferential channel on said mandrel, said channel being wider than said projection permitting a limited range of longitudinal movement of said nut.

FRED HERMANN LOTTERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 190,120 Budd May 1, 1877 299,873 Stevens June 3, 188 1 393,810 Barker Dec. 4, 1888 677,502 Farnham July 2, 1901 776,796 Perkins Dec. 6, 1904 1,240,604 Rasmesen Sept. 18, 1917 1,370,256 Adams Mar. 1, 1921 1,562,327 Hedeen Nov. 17, 1925 2,441,781 Vanuch May 18, 1948 

